To Be Active or to Stop? A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study Exploring Provider Advice and Patient Fears Surrounding Physical Activity in Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Growth Restriction

Exercise guidance for women with pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR) is vague, despite the fact that physical activity during pregnancy improves placental development, placental blood flow, and encourages healthy fetal growth. The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-05, Vol.19 (10), p.6076
Main Authors: Tinius, Rachel A, Maples, Jill M, Schafer, Mark A, Paudel, Alissa, Fortner, Kimberly B, Zite, Nikki B, Nagpal, Taniya S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Blood flow
Communication
Content analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diagnosis
Exercise
Fear
Female
Fetal Growth Retardation
Fetuses
Health care
Humans
Obstetrics
Patients
Physical activity
Physical fitness
Placenta
Placentation
Pregnancy
Pregnancy complications
Qualitative analysis
Retrospective Studies
Womens health
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Summary:Exercise guidance for women with pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR) is vague, despite the fact that physical activity during pregnancy improves placental development, placental blood flow, and encourages healthy fetal growth. The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that women with pregnancies complicated by FGR are fearful of physical activity and are being given unclear or limited advice from healthcare providers. Participants (N = 78) (women who delivered an infant diagnosed with FGR within the past 5 years) took an electronic survey including demographic information, pregnancy information, provider advice recall, and other health-related information relevant to growth-restricted pregnancies. Quantitative and qualitative (post-positivism paradigm) methods were employed to analyze the data. When asked specifically about how the FGR diagnosis impacted their activity levels, nearly 50% of participants said the diagnosis led them to decrease their activity levels. Participants reported that healthcare providers who do discuss activity with pregnant patients with FGR suggest low-intensity activities or ceasing activity, although the majority of providers did not discuss activity at all. More fears surrounding physical activity were reported post-FGR diagnosis, including worrying about fetal growth and development and causing fetal harm when engaging in physical activity.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19106076